Animated exhibitor



July 11, 1944. H. PULLEN ANIMATED EXHIBITOR Filed Jan. 14, 1941 s sheets-sheet i lll www

IN VEN TOR.

July 11, 1944. H PULLEN 2,353,265

ANIMATED EXHIBITOR 4 Filed Jan. 14, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 A "l0 INVENToR.

July 11, 1944. PULLEN l 2,353,265

ANIMATED EXHIBITOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fQ/vv Patented July 11, 1944 AN IlVIATED EXHIBITOR Harry Pullen, Easton, Md., assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to The Magic Duplex Sign Company, Easton, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application January 14, 1941, Serial No. 374,385

4 Claims. CL 40-30) My invention relates broadly to changeable exhibitors and more particularly to an electromechanically operated changeable exhibitor.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simplified construction of changeable exhibitor which may be manufactured inexpensively on a quantity production basis.

Another object of my invention is to provide an arrangement of changeable exhibitor constituted by a multiplicity of coacting laterally extending strip-like members, the opposite surfaces of which carry portions of a display which coact to form an exhibit and which are capable of being reversed in position to alternately present the opposite surfaces thereof to viewing position.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a changeable exhibitor constituted by a plurality of parallel ext-ending reversible strip-like members, the opposite surfaces of which ycarry portions of the exhibit with means for alternately reversing the position of the strip members for alternately presenting in viewing position the exhibit constituted by the coacting portions of the exhibit which appear on the coacting surfaces of the adjacent strip members.

A further object of my invention is to provide a simplified construction of electromechanical operating mechanism for reversing the position of a multiplicity of coacting strip-like members which carry on opposite surfaces thereof coacting portions of an exhibit whereby two separate exhibits may be alternately presented to the view of an observer.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a construction of electromechanically opertions of separate exhibits may be alternately presented to the View of an observer for alternately displaying two distinct exhibits.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of changeable exhibitor constituted by a multiplicity of coacting reversible strip-like. members which may be readily susy pended for display purposes and the strips alternately reversed in position to alternately exhibit portions of the display carried by the opposite surfaces thereof.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in an improved form of advertising `sign as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a changeable exhibitor constructed in accordance with my invention and showing one form of control mechanism for reversing the position of the coacting strip-like elements constituting the sign, the View being partially broken away and illustrated in section to more clearly set forth the Aconstruction of the exhibitor; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the actuating mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the actuating mechanism looking in the direction of line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the mounting of the upper strip-like member constituting the reversible exhibitor and illustrating the means for imparting reversing movement to the strip-like member, the View being taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the means for imparting reversible movement to the strip-like members constituting the sign, certain of the parts being illustrated in elevation; Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional' view through the meansv for imparting reversing movement to the top strip-like member of the'reversible sign; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 8 8 of- Fig. 5 and showing the reversing means and top striplike member in elevation; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain of the elements constituting the reversible exhibitor; Fig. 10-illus trates the position of the top strip-like member when moved through an angle of Fig. 11 illustrates thearrangement-of the elements 0f the exhibitor when the top strip-like member has been moved through an angular distance of Fig. 12 illustrates the manner in which the coacting strip-like elements reverse their position when the top strip-like element has `moved through an angular distance of 180; Fig. 13 illustrates the completely reversed position of the exhibitor by which coacting portions of an exhibitV on thev surfaces of the strip-like members opposite the surfaces visible in the arrangement of Fig. 9 may be displayed; Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional View of a modified form of changeable exhibitor embodying the principles of my inventionandshowingthe electromagneticl type of reversing mechanism; 15 is a transverse sectional view throughl the structure of Fig. 14 takenonline v| 5 |.i,thereof; Fig. 16 is a view of the reversing mechanism moved to position for reversing the elements of the exhibitor; Fig. 17 is an elevational View of a modified form of exhibitor of the suspension type embodying my invention; and Fig. 18 is an end elevational View of the exhibitor shown in Fig. l'l.

My invention'is directed to a simplified construction of changeable exhibitor which may be readily displayed in a show window or in line of sight generally for alternately exhibiting two diiferent displays. One display is provided by coacting portions of the display carried by one surface of a plurality of adjacent laterally extending strip-like members while the other display is carried by the opposite surfaces thereof. The strip-like members are interconnected by vertically extending flexible means; by which reversal in position of the top strip-like member imparts a similar reversal in position of the coacting strip-like members suspended by the interconnecting exible members. strip-like members are shifted in position through an angle of substantially 180 at alternate intervals, thereby displaying the two different exhibits formed by coacti'ng surfaces of the adjacent strip-like members. I` provide means for mounting the top strip-like member in a suitable frame which contains the reversing mechanism. Such. an exhibitor may be readily mounted in` a show window for advertising purposes, or in a modified form of the structure the exhibitor may be readily suspended from a ceiling or other suitable support and reversing movement alternately and successively imparted to the several strip-like members for periodically changing the display carried by the opposite surfaces thereof.

Referring to the drawings in. more detail, the coacting laterally extending strip-like members are represented at I, 2, 3', 4, 5. 6, 1, 8 and 9 arranged Within a frame I constituted byy vertically extending end supports II and I2 interconnected by'a top frame member I4. The end supports II and I2 are mounted on a base I5 which forms' a cover portion for a case I6 with.- in which the reversing mechanism for the striplike members is housed.

The. strip-like members I, 2', 3`, 4, 5, S, l, 9 and 9 are interconnected adjacent opposite ends thereof by means of flexible'vertically extending strap. members represented at Il, I8, I8 and' 20. The strap: members are arranged in sets, one set being constituted by straps I8 and I9 and the other set being constituted' by straps Il andl 2'9. Straps I8 and I9 are secured to the upper edgesv of each of the coacting strip-like members as indicated at I8a and I'9a` IBb and I 9b, ISC and I 9c, etc., while flexible straps II and 20 are connected to the lower edges of each ofthe strip-like members as indicated at I 'la and 20a, I'Ib and 20h, I'lc and 20c, etc. The sets of straps pass around the opposite surfaces of each of the strip-like members for suspending the strip-like' members as elements of the display. The strip-like members are each provided with resilient silencing bumpers indicated at la, 2a, 3a, etc., on opposite surfaces of the strip-like members so that as the strip-like members change their positions through substantially 180 and fold upon themselves the surfaces do not strike each other but instead the bumpers yieldingly strike eachother, preventing noise at each reversal of the position of the strip-like members constituting the display sign. The change in position of the strip-like members is therefore effected silently and without the clash of the surfacesV against each other as the surfaces reverse in position, which would be the case in the event that the resilient bumpers are omitted. The coacting parts of the exhibit on one surface of each of the coacting strip-like members Each of theY are represented at A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, AG, A7, As and A9 on one side of the strip-like members, while the coacting parts of the exhibit on the opposite surfaces of the strip-like members are identified as B1, B2, B3, B4, etc. The manner in which the display is alternately changed will be understood by a consideration of Figs. 9-13 which show successivev steps in the reversing in position of the strip-like members constituting the sign. Fig. 9 illustrates the strip-like members displaying the surfaces A1, A2, A3, etc. to view, while Fig. 13 illustrates the strip-like members displaying the opposite surfaces B1, B2, B3, B4, etc., to View.

The reversing mechanism by which the change in position of the strip-like members is effected may' take a variety of forms as for example the type 'illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, or of the type illustrated in Figs. 14, 15 and 16.

In the several forms of reversing mechanisms illustrated the reversing movement is initially imparted to strip-like member I which is provided with pintles 2l and 22 at opposite ends thereof. The pintle 2l is pivotally mounted in bracket member 23 secured to standard Il of the frame. Pintle 22 is polygonal in section and is received in a correspondingly shaped socket in hub 24 of the rotatably mounted pulley member 25. The rotatably mounted pulley member 25 has an annular recess 26 in one side thereof engageable over an annular projection 2l within the support I2 of the frame structure. The support I2 is apertured to allow the hub 24 to pass through the removable facing strip of the support I2 in alignment with the annular projection 2'! on which. the pulley 25 is rotatably supported. The support l2 has hollow channels 28 formed therein for the passage of cords, cables or belting shown at 29 secured at. opposite ends tothe pulley 25 as indicated at 29a and 29h and extending through channels 28 and through apertures 34 in the cabinet which houses the reversing mechanism to the driving mechanism within the cabinet structure.

Beneath the horizontally extending base I5 I provide a supporting base 3U from which the parts of the reversing mechanism are suspended. Brackets 3I are fastened to the supporting base 39 and depend downwardly therefrom and provide means for journalling the transversely extending shaft 32. Pulleys are secured on shaft 3,2 and are engaged by cords 29 which pass thereover in changing directiony from a generally vertical position to a generally horizontal position as shown. A laterally disposed pulley 35 is rotatably mounted on dependent standard 36 by pivotal mounting means 3l, permitting rotation of pulley 35 in. a horizontal plane about pivot 31. The ends of the cord 29 are wrapped partially around the pulley 35k and are secured thereto at 38, and 39 as indicated.

The pulley 35 has a stud or crank pin 49 depending therefrom which serves as means for establishing a pivotal connection with the end of crank arm 4I.. A cotter pin or other securing means 42 passes through the stud or crank pin 4G for maintaining the end of crank arm 4I in position on the stud or crank pin 4E). The opposite end of crank arm 4| embraces a stud or crank pin 43 which depends from a radially disposed strip 44 which is mounted in spaced relation to the circular plate shown at 46. A Cotter pin or other means 45 is employed for pivotally securing the end of -crank arm 4I in position on stud or crank pin 43, The circular plate 46 carries an annular rack 41 on the face thereof opposite the face to which strip 44 is attached.

A sub-supporting plate 48 is secured to supporting base 30 and provides means for mounting the bracket and standard 49 adjacent one end and the motor 58 adjacent the other end. A supply cir-cuit for motor 5I] is indicated by leads The motor 50 has the shaft thereof terminating at one end in a gear box 52 from which shaft 53 is driven. Shaft 53 has an extension 54 thereon which projects into a tubular coupling member 55 which fits over extension 54. A stub shaft 56 is secured in the depending standard 49 and extends into the tubular coupling member 55. A securing means 51 in the form of a set screw is provided in the end of depending standard 49 for securing stub shaft '56 in position -in alignment with coupling 55 and shaft 53. Stub shaft 56 has a sleeve 58 rotatably mounted thereon, which sleeve carries beveled pinion 59 thereon which meshes with the annular rack 41 on plate 46. The driving shaft 53 carries beveled pinion 60 thereon which also meshes with annular rack 41 on plate 46. A headed and screw threaded bolt 6| passes through plate 46 and engages the coupling member 55 for maintaining the annular rack 41 and the beveled pinions 59 and 68 in mesh. The headed end of bolt y6| is grooved as indicated at 62 enabling the bifurcated end 44a of the radially disposed strip 44 to be secured in position with respect to plate 46 and properly spaced therefrom by spacing member 64. Continuous rotation of plate 46 under the action of the driving beveled gear 6l) in mesh with annular rack 41 operates to drive crank arm 4| for imparting angular movement through a path of substantially 180 to pulley 35 in alternately opposite directions. That is to say, a rocking movement is imparted to pulley 35 under the action of continuous movement of plate 46 whereby reciprocatory movement is imparted to cords 29. Thus pulley 25 is first turned substantially 180 in one direction and then is turned substantially 180 in the opposite direction. This successive change in direction of movement of pulley 35 results in a reversal of the exhibitin-g surface of strip-like member and a corresponding reversal of the coacting exhibiting surfaces of strips 2-9 which are flexibly suspended with respect thereto. Motor 50 continues to. drive annular rack 41, rotating plate 46 and rocking pulley 35 to alternately and successively roll up cord 29 on the surface of the pulley, first in one direction and then in the opposite direction for alternately and successively imparting reversing movement to the strip-like elements of the changeable exhibitor.

Motor 50 is provided with an air circulating fan 65 on one end of the motor shaft which is continuously driven While motor 58 is in operation for circulating the air in the enclosing cabinet through apertures 66 and 61, thereby lmaintaining the reversing mechanism relatively cool over long periods of operating time.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 14-16 I have shown the frame structure of the changeable exhibitor somewhat modified. In this form the end support |2 is provided with channeled recesses y68 sufficiently wide to accommodate the cord 169, which is connected at 69a to the periphery of pulley 25 at one end and is connected to weight at the other end. Another cord 13 is secured to pulley at 13a and passes around the periphery thereof and passes through aperture 12 in the top of the cabinet |5 and is connected to a pulley 1| Within the cabinet structure.

The connection of cord 13 with pulley 1| is indicated at 1|a. The pulley 1| is carried by a shaft 14 which is journalled at opposite ends as indicated at 15 within the cabinet structure l5. A mutilated gear 16 is carried by shaft 14 and has teeth over substantially 180 of the periphery thereof for engaging with arcuate shaped rack 11. The arcuate shaped rack 11 is formed on the end of lever arm 18 formed of magnetic material and pivotally mounted at 19 on standards 80 also of magnetic material, as shown more clearly in Fig. l5. Within the cabinet structure I provide a sub-base 8| of magnetic material which supports the standards 89 and which provides mounting means for the solenoid 82 having a core 83 therein with an angularly disposed pole face. The angularly disposed pole face of core 8S of the solenoid coacts with a complementary shaped armature member 84 carried by the lever arm 1-8. The shapes of the pole face of core 83 and armature 84 are such that armature 84and the lever 18 carrying the armature may move to a position substantially closing the magnetic path through the lever arm 18, pivotal mountings 19, standards and sub-base 8| and the core structure of the solenoid 82. The faces 83 and 84 are formed at opposite angles so that when the lever arm 18 is moved to its lowermost position the faces 83 and 84 are substantially parallell as indicated in Fig. 16. Y

I mount a bracket 85 on one of the standards 89 on which a contact member 88 is supported. An insulation member 81 is mounted on bracket 85 and forms a supporting means for a bimetallic strip 88. The bimetallic strip 88 carries a contact member 89 thereon in alignment with contact member 86 on bracket B5. The bimetallic strip 88 comprises strip members of different temperature coeicients of expansion and capable under the thermal influence of the passage of current through the strips of operating the contact members 89 and 86 to open the circuit as indicated by the position ofthe contacts in Fig. 16 as compared to the position of the contacts in Fig. 14. When the bimetallic strip members have cooled, the contact members 89 and 86 again establish electrical connection for closing the circuit. The bimetallic contact member is interposed in series between the power supply circuit 90' and the solenoid 82. In Fig. 14 I have represented the condition just before the power supply switch has been turned on leading to the power lsupply circuit 90. When the power is turned on, solenoid 82 is energized because the current passes through bimetallic strip 88 and contacts 89 and 86 energizing winding 82. Magnetic core structure 83 is magnetized and armature 84 is attracted, thereby shifting lever 18 to the position shown in Fig. 16. This operation results in rotation of gear 16 by arcuate shaped rack 11, thereby turning shaft 14 which moves pulley 1| and wraps cord 13 thereon, thereby revolving strip member substantially and resulting in the reversing of strip member and al1 of the coacting strip members 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 1 for thereby reversing the exhibitor. The thermal action of the bimetallic strip 88 then results in the opening of the circuit to solenoid 82 whereby weight 19 draws cord 69 downwardly, imparting. substantially 180 of movement to strip member I, thus returning strip member to its original position together with all of the coacting suspended strip-like members. After bimetallic strip member 88 has cooled, contacts 89 and 86 again engage completing the circuit through 'the solenoid 82 which is again energized for repeating the cycle of reversing operation. The time period may be regulated by the construction of the bimetallic element by which thev periodic change in position of the strip-like members constituting the exhibitor may be effected.

Heretofore I have shown my invention as applied to exhibitors of the type-which are supported from the base of a show window or otherl display floor. In Figs. 17 and 18 I have shown an arrangement of exhibitor which may be suspended in any desired display position. In this construction I provide a suspension bracket 9| having depending portions 9 la, 9 lb and 9 Ic. The reversing actuator mechanism is' mounted in casing 92 and supported between depending portions Sla and 9Ib. This actuating mechanism may be of a spring wound motor type which may be periodically wound by a suitable key indicated at 93. The

strip-like elements constituting the sign or exhibitor are shown at I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 8 and 9 where the strip-like member l is pivotally mounted at one end in depending portion 9|c and is connected to the reversing mechanism at the other end and driven by the reversing actuator 12. Thus 180 reversing movements are alternately and successively imparted to the coacting strip-like members. The suspension bracket 9| is provided with supporting eyelets Silv adjacent Opposite ends thereof through which the supporting wire or cord 95 is looped and suspended at 96 from any suitable supporting means. The changeable exhibitor may therefore be suspended in a show 4window or from the ceiling and two different exhibits periodically displayed under control of the reversing mechanism of actuator 92.

I realize other mo-dications of my invention may be made and while I have described my invention in certain of its preferred embodiments I desire that it be understood that modifications and changes may be made in the structure of the exhibitor of my invention without departing from the spirit of my invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. An actuator for a changeable exhibitor of the type including a multiplicity of laterally extending strip-like members mutually suspended and supported within a frame structure one with respect to another for displaying by coacting adjacent faces, either of two different exhibits integrated by coacting surfaces of adjacent striplike members either in normal position or reverse position, comprising in combination a vertically disposed frame structure including side members having channelways formed therein, said channelways terminating in a substantially circular recess in' a portion of said frame structure, an annular projection disposed Within said recess, a pulley member having an annular recess in one face thereof adapted to be journalled with respect to the annular projection on said frame member, a connection between said pulley member and the extreme upper laterally extending strip-like member of the exhibitor, cables wrapped around said pulley member and secured thereto, said cables extending through said channelways,

and mechanism connected with said cables for imparting successive movement to said pulley member through angular distances of substantially 180.

2. An actuator for a changeable exhibitor of the type including a multiplicity of laterally extending strip-like members mutually suspended and supported within a frame structure one with respect to another for displaying by coacting adjacent faces, either of two different exhibits integrated by coacting surfaces of adjacent striplike members either in normal position or reverse position, comprising in combination a vertically disposed frame structure including side members having channelways formed therein, said channelways terminating in a substantially circular recess in a portion of said frame structure, an annular projection disposed within said recess, a pulley member having an annular recess in one face thereof and having a socket-like projection extending from the opposite face thereof, the extreme upper laterally extending strip-like member of the exhibitor being journalled at one end in said frame structure and having a pintle on the opposite end secured in said socket-like projection of said pulley member, a cable wrapped around the periphery of said pulley member and secured at spaced positions thereon and extending through the channelways in said frame structure, and operating mechanism imparting movement to said cable for successively moving said pulley member through angular distances of substantially 3. An actuator for a changeable exhibitor of the type including a multiplicity of laterally extending strip-like members mutually suspended and supported for displaying coacting adjacent faces, either of two different exhibits integrated by coacting surfaces of adjacent strip members in either normal or reverse positions, means for journalling the extreme upper strip-like member including a pulley secured to the end of the said strip-like member, a cable looped around said pulley and fastened at spaced positions thereon, a pair of idler rollers for guiding said cable, a pulley journalled in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said first mentioned pulleyl and in line with said idler rollers, said cable being wrapped around said last mentioned pulley and secured at spaced intervals to the periphery thereof, a driving motor, a disc driven by said motor,

and a link pivotally connected between a point on said disc and on said last mentioned pulley for reversibly driving said pulley.

4. An actuator for a changeable exhibitor of the type including a multiplicity of laterally extending strip-like members mutually Suspended and supported for displaying by coacting adjacent faces either of two diierent exhibits integrated by coacting surfaces of adjacent strip-like members in either normal or reverse positions, means for journalling the extreme upper strip-like member including a pulley secured to the end of the said strip-like member, a cable looped around said pulley and fastened at spaced positions thereon, a pair of idler rollers for guiding said cable, a pulley journalled in a plane substantially normal to the plane of said rst mentioned pulley and in line with said idler rollers, said cable being wrapped around said last mentioned pulley and secured at spaced intervals to the periphery thereof, a driving motor, a pair of gears driven by said motor, a ring gear journalled in a plane substantially coincident With the plane of said last mentioned pulley, a point eccentric to the center of movement of said ring gear, and a point eccentric to the center of movement of said last mentioned pulley for reversibly driving said last mentioned pulley.

HARRY PULLEN. 

